Andrew K.
Yelp
Like all the restaurants along the Strip, this Shake Shack location is bigger, livelier, and more bougie than all other Shack locations. It is located inside the New York New York Hotel. What remains unchanged is the taste and quality of Shake Shack's burgers and fries.
Similar to Five Guys, Shake Shack is often compared to In-N-Out and considered an East Coast competitor to the undisputed West Coast king. I love that all three share the same passion for celebrating the classic American burger using fresh, simple, but high-quality beef and ingredients.
The Shake Shack creation features 100% all-natural Angus beef smashed to caramelize and keep the meat juicy, a pillowy-soft potato bun, and their proprietary blend of sauce, called ShackSauce.
You would be remiss to recreate the classic American burger without adding lettuce, tomato, and topping it with melted American cheese. Shake Shack achieves this by using high-quality beef and the freshest toppings, serving it on a lightly toasted potato bun, and complementing it with ShakeSauce, which adds to the flavor profile.
The ShackBurger is a juicy, flavorful burger crafted with high-quality, simple ingredients. I love that about this burger chain. Not everyone is a fan of the potato bun, but I appreciate its subtle sweetness and soft texture. It reminds me of Wonder Bread with butter on it. Potato buns absorb the juices of the beef patty to hold the burger together. They also lightly toast their buns, which is a must. I always want that slight crunch to it when I bite into a burger.
Some people are also not a fan of the unique texture of a smashed beef patty, but the crispy outer crust is what seals in the juices at the center and gives that rich flavor. The freshness and crispiness of the lettuce and tomatoes are another big "thumbs up" for me. And you have to love a burger that holds up and does not fall apart after only a few bites, and gets messy. The American cheese is well melted into the beef patty and completely covers it.
Shake Shack also offers a variety of toppings, including bacon, pepper jack cheese, cherry peppers, crispy onions, BBQ sauce, avocado slices, mushrooms, pickles, and even carrots. There are many more flavor options available for their shakes as well. The flavored lemonades are made with pure cane sugar, and all are very refreshing. And the crinkle-cut fries taste better than those served at In-N-Out. They also serve hot dogs. Shake Shack first started as a hot dog cart in New York before launching into a restaurant chain.
I disagree with many of my friends who say the burger lacks the robust flavor of, say, an In-N-Out. Shake Shack uses all-natural Angus beef, resulting in a more flavorful and juicier product. I am not completely in love with the ShackSauce. In-N-Out does a much better job focusing on keeping it classic, simple, and affordable. Shake Shack is more expensive than In-N-Out. The sauce used at In-N-Out is more distinctly flavorful, and the freshness of the ingredients really stands out. Call it my West Coast bias.
Shack Shack, nonetheless, makes higher-quality burgers, and I like the cool, modern vibe at this location. I am definitely a fan.